* '''Yampah Spa and Salon'''. Has vapor caves and a spa. It is recommended you try the caves themselves for an hour. This involves sitting in a a natural cave (on benches spread throughout a series of chambers) that is hot and steamy hot. Cold water and buckets are available to splash yourself with cold water.

* '''Yampah Spa and Salon'''. Has vapor caves and a spa. It is recommended you try the caves themselves for an hour. This involves sitting in a a natural cave (on benches spread throughout a series of chambers) that is hot and steamy hot. Cold water and buckets are available to splash yourself with cold water.

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*<do name="Snowmobiling Glenwood Springs Area" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="http://glenwoodtrip.com" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Some good information on snowmobiling and other things to do in the area.</do>

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*<do name="Snowmobiling Glenwood Springs Area" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="http://glenwoodtrip.com" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Colorado is home to some of the best snowmobiling in the country. Glenwood Springs is surrounded by two areas, White River National Forest and the Grand Mesa. Trail riding on groomed trails, hill climbing, deep powder carving, scenic views, with a mixture of trees and meadows. These areas get an average of 35 feet of snow a year.

Contents

Understand

Glenwood Springs is located at the confluence of the Colorado River and the Roaring Fork River, in the Roaring Fork Valley. The two rivers shape the town. They provide world-class fly-fishing, whitewater rafting, and now kayaking.

Originally named Defiance, in the late 1800s, the name was changed was by white men arrived from an Iowa town called Glenwood. Many of the nearby towns (Aspen and Leadville) had their booms while Glenwood Springs was yet in its infancy. Glenwood Springs was difficult to reach due to the canyons to the east and west; it was also located on Ute land. The town grew in part thanks to its location on the railroad and the Colorado River.

The local area is surrounded by public lands, especially the White River National Forest, which attracts hunters and campers from great distance. The Grand Mesa is to the west and the Flattops Wilderness area dominate to the North. The Flattops is a very large area offering unlimited high-country exploring. The Four Mile recreation area (to the South-west)offers easier day mountain access favored by locals. Glenwood Springs is a truly great place to access all the Rocky Mountains have to offer.

In terms of Culture (and ski-appeal) it is hard to overestimate the role of Aspen. Glenwood Springians may not want to actually live in Aspen, but they do appreciate being able to commute to a cultural mecca.

Get in

By plane

There is city airport airport in Glenwood Springs, but it only accommodates small private planes.

The Garfield County Airport, between Silt and Rifle is about 40 minutes away. It accommodates larger planes, but does not offer commercial flights.

The closest cities with airports that accommodate commercial flights are:

Eagle-Vail (35 minutes... recommended) - this airport is located between Gypsum and Eagle. It offers free parking and is easy to get to from the highway (I-70. In the winter, there are direct flights to some hubs, such as Minneapolis and Dallas.

Aspen (45 minutes, tough in traffic an common weather issues)paid parking and not much of it.

Grand Junction (80 minutes by car)- this is convenient for travelers heading south and west.

Do

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, [8]. A family adventure park with a focus on caving. A fun tram ride, restaurant, rides and cave tours makes this a MUST for family travelers. Plan on at least 1/2 a day here if you are visiting... maybe more!

Glenwood Hots Springs Pool, [9]. A huge hot spring pool that is the signature attraction of the town. The colder and more inclement the weather, the better.

Rock Gardens Rafting, *[10]. Offers a variety of local trips on the Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers - choose from whitewater thrills to scenic family trips. They also offer Jeep tours and fly-fishing trips. Glenwood Springs is a popular rafting destination due to its location at the confluence of two major Western rivers. The Colorado River is notable for its 12 month flows, which bring in rafting outfitters from all over the state during low-water months.

Sunlight Mountain Resort, [11]. A really local nice ski area for family skiers. Not as professional and huge as other nearby resorts but much more affordable with a lot of mountain to ski.

Yampah Spa and Salon. Has vapor caves and a spa. It is recommended you try the caves themselves for an hour. This involves sitting in a a natural cave (on benches spread throughout a series of chambers) that is hot and steamy hot. Cold water and buckets are available to splash yourself with cold water.

Snowmobiling Glenwood Springs Area, [1]. Colorado is home to some of the best snowmobiling in the country. Glenwood Springs is surrounded by two areas, White River National Forest and the Grand Mesa. Trail riding on groomed trails, hill climbing, deep powder carving, scenic views, with a mixture of trees and meadows. These areas get an average of 35 feet of snow a year.

Buy

Glenwood has a nice shopping area downtown with lots of cute little boutique shops. There is a new mall with a Target, Lowes, Vitamin Cottage, Petco, Pier 1. Make sure you stroll down Cooper Avenue too, which has some nice consignment shops and natural foods store.

Eat

Fast-food. McDonald's, Wendy's, Taco Bell, etc. For a change, try the Charcoal Burger on the road between West Glenwood and downtown.

Glenwood Canyon Brewpub, [12]. Offering first-rate fresh brewed beer and a local's favorite dining experience. It is a non-smoking environment, it doesn't stay open late like local bars, and it has the best pool tables in town. A good place to catch a game too.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, [13]. Their new mountain-top Lookout Grille (accessed via tram ride) offers a nice dining experience with the best views in the area. The food is simple (burgers, etc.) but excellent.

Italian Underground Downtown. Dinner only. The locals favorite Italian. Great atmosphere. Reasonable prices. Good wine list. Very popular and rather small. Your best best is to be there when they open at 5pm.

Sunlight Inn, [15]. Offers apres-ski and a full dinner menu several times a week.

Tapei Tokyo. A Chinese restaurant near City Market.

Tequila's. A Mexican restaurant near the I70 exit.

Drink

Glenwood Canyon Brewpub,[16]. This is a great place to drink if you like fresh brewed beer, real pool tables, games on TV, no-smoking. If you want Budweiser, cheap pool tables, and a smoky environment, go over to Doc's or The Springs.

Lookout Grille at Glenwood Caverns,[17]. This mountain-top location is a great place to drink in the views while you drink. They offer beer, wine, pina coladas, daiquiris, and margaritas, and amazing views of two mountain valleys and majestic Mount Sopris.

Sleep

Affordable Inns of Glenwood, [18]. Specializing in King and Double Queen rooms with refrigerators and microwaves, the hotel also offers wireless internet, guest laundry, HBO and movie channels, hot tub, free local calls, and continental breakfast.

The Hotel Denver, [19]. The Hotel Denver offers the best of the old and new. The rooms are decorated with quilts and antiques, and have modern conveniences such as wireless internet access and movies. It is centrally located in downtown Glenwood Springs, near the Hot Springs Pool, and the Amtrak station. The Glenwood Canyon Brewpub is located in this historic hotel.

B&B on Mitchell Creek, [22]. Offers several nice suites that feel an hour from town but are only 10 minutes. If you want to be up in the mountains for a romantic stay, check them out.

The Hotel Colorado. The signature hotel of the area and is rich in history. It is worth a visit just to stroll through the lobby area or have a bite to eat. They serve a decent Sunday brunch and the bar is a good place to watch a game or just pass the time with comfortable seating and cable TV.

Glenwood Canyon Resort, [23]. Offers very nice little cabins and some camping. Located right on the Colorado River in "No Name" which is one highway exit up from Glenwood proper. The Glenwood Canyon Trail is very close (for hiking and biking). They also offer rafting trips via their Rock Gardens Rafting trips

Glenwood Hot Springs Lodge and Pool[24] Great lodging right next to the best hot springs pool in the world

Holiday Inn Express Standard, if reliable, chain lodging. Very close to the entry to the Glenwood Caverns park.

AmericInn Lodge and Suites at the Caverns, 52000 Two Rivers Plaza Rd, [3]. Glenwood Springs only Hotel with an Indoor Waterpark. Just a few feet from The Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park Tramway and just a few blocks from the Hot Springs Pool. Nice Family Hotel. Ski and Adventure Park Packages available.

Contact

Get Out

Colorado's Wine Country - Colorado is home to over 70 wineries and its own indigenous vineyards. Wine lovers can enjoy several scenic day trips from Glenwood Springs to many of the small towns that grow their own grapes. These lovely little communities include Montrose, Palisade, Paonia, and Hotchkiss, as well as the city of Grand Junction. Palisade is about 90 minutes away by car.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!